His life
withered in a day."

Marsham flushed.

"He had no right to bring her up in this complete ignorance! He could
not have done anything more cruel!--more fatal! No one knows what the
effect may be upon her."

And with a sudden rush of passion through the blood, he seemed to hold
her once more in his arms, he felt the warmth of her cheek on his; all
her fresh and fragrant youth was present to him, the love in her voice,
and in her proud eyes. He turned away, threw himself into a chair, and
buried his face in his hands.

Sir James looked down upon him. Instead of sympathy, there was a
positive lightening in the elder man's face--a gleam of satisfaction.

"Cheer up, old fellow!" he said, in a low voice. "You'll bring her
through. You stand by her, and you'll reap your reward. By Gad, there
are many men who would envy you the chance!"

Marsham made no reply. Was it his silence that evoked in the mind of Sir
James the figure which already held the mind of his companion?--the
figure of Lady Lucy? He paced up and down, with the image before
him--the spare form, resolutely erect, the delicate resolution of the
face, the prim perfection of the dress, judged by the Quakerish standard
of its owner. Lady Lucy almost always wore gloves--white or gray. In Sir
James's mind the remembrance of them took a symbolic importance. What
use in expecting the wearer of them to handle the blood and mire of
Juliet Sparling's story with breadth and pity?

"Look here!" he said, coming to a sudden stop. "Let us decide at once on
what is to be done. You said nothing to Miss Mallory?"

"Nothing. But she is already in some trouble and misgiving about the
past. She is in the mood to inquire; she has been, I think, for some
time. And, naturally, she wishes to hide nothing from me."

"She will write to Riley & Bonner," said Sir James, quietly. "She will
probably write to-night. They may take steps to acquaint her with her
history--or they may not. It depends. Meanwhile, who else is likely to
know anything about the engagement?"

"Diana was to tell Mrs. Colwood--her companion; no one else."

"Nice little woman!--all right there! But"--Sir James gave a slight
start--"what about the cousin?"

"Miss Merton? Oh no! There is clearly no sympathy between her and Diana.
How could there be?"

"Yes--but my dear fellow!--that girl knows--must know--everything there
is to know! And she dislikes Diana; she is jealous of her; that I saw
quite plai